Forthcoming events at the Centre
Coming up ...
Drawing God in the Public Square: Imaging God and Faith in comic books and graphic novels
Thursday 24 May 2012, 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm. Moot Court, 10th Floor, Richardson Building, Dunedin campus.
Dr Stephen Garner, Lecturer in Theology at the School of Theology in the University of Auckland, notes that the contemporary comic book and graphic novel has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years, developing into a medium that explores the breadth of the human condition.
Whether as stereotypical escapism featuring spandex-clad superheroes, or as diverse explorations of politics, sexuality, and religion, the comic book and graphic novel provide a alternative view onto the public square.
This talk will focus upon the theme of religious faith in this genre including graphical representation of the Bible, the use of Christian and other religious imagery in comic books, and how comic books might serve as a location for doing public theology.
Stephen's research and teaching areas include practical theology, theology and popular culture, theology and technology, ethics and public theology, spirituality, and science and religion.
Theology & Mental Health: A One-Day Symposium.
Wednesday 4 July, 2012. Venue: TBA
Hosted by the Centre, this symposium asks how theological perspectives might enrich our understanding of mental disabilities. Those interested in the topic or have some experience in the field are asked to give a 30-minute presentation -- please submit your ideas directly to Prof Andrew Bradstock or call him at (03) 479 8450 by Wednesday 9 May. This symposium is being held the day before the 15th International Philosophy & Psychiatry Conference: Culture & Mental Health, being held in Dunedin from 5 - 7 July, 2012.
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2012 events
16 May. A Conversation with Rev Peter Beck. Former Dean of ChristChurch Cathedral speaks with Andrew Bradstock about his new life as a city councillor and the challenges of rebuilding the Garden City. [Video recording not yet available.]
10 May. "Creative Responses to Extremism: Lessons from the Breivik Trial in Norway." Panelists: Professor Birgit Brock-Utne (Professor of Peace Studies, researcher/consultant in education and development, Norway), Professor Kevin Clements (Director, National Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies), Assoc Prof Richard Jackson (Deputy Director, Director of Research, NCPCS). Co-hosted by CTPI and NCPCS. Podcast coming soon!
9 May. "The Elephant in the Room: Challenges and opportunities of faith-based NGOs in a post-modern world." Chris Clarke, CEO, World Vision New Zealand. Co-hosted with the Otago Business School.
26 April. 'Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A discussion we need to have'. Panelists: Prof Sean Davison, Hon Maryan Street MP, Prof Grant Gillett, John Kleinsman and Assoc Prof Colin Gavaghan, with presentation of a research paper by Thomas Noakes-Duncan. Watch the podcast.
16 April. "We Don't 'Do' God": Secularism and the NZ State. Panelists: Assoc Prof John Stenhouse (History), Rev Dr Lynne Baab (Theology), Glyn Carpenter (Director, NZ Christian Network), and Dr Bryce Edwards (Politics). Watch the podcast.
23 March. 'Religion & the Republic: Mitt, Rick, Newt & God'. Panel discussion on role of religion in US Republican Primaries. American panelists: Emeritus Professor Jim Flynn, Rev Don Shriver, Peggy Shriver, and Rev Dr Lynne Baab. Don is the award-winning author of Honest Patriots: Loving a Country Enough to Remember its Misdeeds.
21 March. Seminar with Emeritus Professor Colin Gibson.
20 March. 'Hymns & Social Justice'. Public lecture given by Emeritus Professor Colin Gibson (English Dep't) one of the world's leading contemporary hymn writers. Download the PDF of the lecture.
14 March. 'A New Global Climate Change Treaty - Can Humanity Deliver? Our Challenge after Durban for 2015'. Public lecture by Prof Jonathan Boston, Victoria University of Wellington. Panel discussion featured Laura Black (Methodist Mission), Kireua Bureimoa (postgraduate student from Kiribati), Cr Jinty MacTavish (Dunedin City Council). Download the PDF of the lecture.
23 February. 'Vulnerable Children' panel discussion, with political commentator Chris Trotter, Prof Mark Henaghan (Dean of Law), Jenny Munro (Otago Youth Wellness Trust), Dr Pauline Gulliver (Injury Prevention Research Unit, Otago). View video recording.
22 February. A Conversation with Chris Trotter. Interviewed by Assoc Prof John Stenhouse (History).
21 February. 'Asset Sales' panel of inquiry at St Paul's Cathedral. View video recording.
17 February. Hosted the launch of the Salvation Army's annual state-of-the-nation report, 'The Growing Divide'.
2011 events
14 December: 'The MMP Referendum: What Next?' with Michael Woodhouse MP, Clare Curran MP, Assoc Prof Janine Hayward and Shane Gallagher.View the video recording.
1 December: 'World Without Hunger? Population growth, food production and a finite planet' with Dr Chris Rosin, Will Watterson and Scott Willis (hosted jointly with CSAFE).
1 December: Hosted a Fair-Trade breakfast for Dunedin Church leaders, with Will Watterson (NZ Director, Global Poverty Project) and Wyn Barbezat (Trade Aid, Dunedin).
17 November: 'Realizing Dunedin's Potential: Is inequality a factor' with Paul Barber, Cr Jinty MacTavish, Laura Black, Aaron Hawkins, Neill Ballantyne and Sue Russell
7 November: 'Crouch, touch, pause, sponsor: Rugby - game, product, religion?' with Chris Laidlaw, Prof Steve Jackson and Rev Dr Kevin Ward
1 November (Dunedin) and 3 November (Wellington) - Churches' Election Forums
26 October: 'Raising Funds and Raising Friends'
11 October: 'Climate Change: Just sit back and enjoy the grapes?' Public forum with Laura Black, Rod Oram and Dr Jim Salinger (hosted jointly with CSAFE)
26 September: 'A conversation with Chris Marshall'
21 June: 'How to change the world one banana at a time' - public lecture by Harriet Lamb CBE (Director of Fairtrade Foundation UK)
16 June: 'Happy marriage or strange bedfellows? Government, welfare and the role of the church' with Rt Rev Philip Richardson, Gillian Bremner and Rev Dr John Evans
8 June: 'The Downsizing of Christendom - a threat or possibility? Some lessons from an Australian Church' - public lecture by Rev Dr John Evans (Melbourne)
31 May: 'On Shaky Ground: Earthquakes and their consequences' with Rev Dr Peter Carrell, Karen Clements, Dr Andrew Gorman, Sarah Hexamer, Dr Caroline Orchiston and Sue Russell
27 May: 'Is the climate change challenge too big for democracies?' - public lecture by Professor Jonathan Boston
26 May: 'So, what did you make of the Budget?' with Prof Jonathan Boston, Dr David Clark, Metiria Turei MP and Michael Woodhouse MP
26 May: 'The Future of Welfare in New Zealand: Reflections on the Welfare Working Group report' with Prof Jonathan Boston and Laura Black
23 May: 'Was the death of Bin Laden a turning point in building a safer world?' with Prof Robert Patman, Prof Kevin Clements, Dr Maryam Purvis and Prof Andrew Bradstock
4 April: 'What's happening in the Middle East?' with Prof David Fielding, Prof William Harris and Mai Tamimi